Dissolver.



No. 805,276. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. W. J. FLITTON.

DISSOLVER.

' APPLICATION FILED OGT.Z0,1904.

2 SHEETS-SKEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed October 20, 1904. Serial No 229,339.

To aZZ whom, it nuu concern/.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. FLITTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dissolvers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dissolvers, and more especially to that class of devices designed for dissolving a material requiring the application of heat and moisture for its dissolution.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus especially adapted for dissolving chipped hard soap, such as is commonly used in 'laundries. It is well known that the device commonly in use for accomplishing this object consists of a metallic vessel into which a steam-pipe enters. The vessel is partly filled with water and raised to and maintained at a boiling temperature by the admission of steam thereto. The chipped soap is put into the boiling water and allowed to dissolve. It is also well known that much of the soap is not dissolved and is placed in the washing-machine in an undissolved state. This not only is wasteful of the soap, but the undissolved soap adheres to the washed fabric and causes discoloration thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dissolver especially adapted for the purpose wherein no undissolved soap is permitted in the solution, which is accomplished by placing the soap upon a screen above the water and dissolving it by the action of steam thereon. I

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved dissolver connected directly with a Washing-machine such as is commonly used in laundries. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of my dissolver. Fig. 3 is a view of my dissolver in top plan. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of my dissolver, taken'on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of my dissolver, showing a slightly-modified form showing the gate attachment for drawing the solution into a bucket or other receptacle. 'Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same form of dissolver as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of my dissolver on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of my dissolver, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its preferred embodiment my improved dissolver consists of a casing 1 of any desired form and supported in any desired manner, as by the legs 2. A pipe 3 enters the casing 1 at any convenient height and is adapted to be connected externally with any convenient source of water-supply, preferably hot water. The pipe 3 is fitted with a valve 4 internally of the casing, and a float 5 is provided connected, through the medium of lever 6, to and adapted to operate the valve 4 to maintain the water within the casing 1 at a desired height. A pipe 7, connected with any convenient source of steam-supply, is disposed to enter the casing 1 at or near the bottom thereof and is preferably provided with a perforated coil 8 within the said casing, adapted to admit and distribute steam from the pipe 7. A valve 9 is likewise provided in the pipe 7 to control the flow of steam into and through the coil 8. Within the casing l and somewhat above the predetermined water-line a screen or perforated supportlO is disposed as a diaphragm covering the casing transversely thereof and adapted to serve'as a support for soap or other material placed thereon. Near the top of the casing 1 and above the screen 10 a pipe 11 enters the casing and is connected externally with the steam-pipe 7 and is supplied with a valve 12 to control the admission of steam from the pipe 7 to the pipe 11. Within the casing 1 the pipe 11 is formed into a coil 13, disposed above but adjacent to the screen 10. The upper end of casing 1 is provided with a cover 14, adapted to close the vessel, and is provided with any convenient knob or handle 15 for the manipulation of the said cover. The dissolver may be connected, as shown in Fig. 1, with a washing-machine of the usual construction 16, as by the pipe 17 communicating with the lower extremity of the casing. For the purpose of conveniently transferring the solution within the casing 1 to the washing-machine 16 the lower extremity of the casing 1 may be formed into a reduced cylindrical portion 18 and provided with an internally-reciprocating follower or piston 19. The piston 19 may be operated by a vertically-disposed piston-rod 20, extending longitudinally of and without the casing 1 and connected without the casing to a lever 21 or other convenient method for reciprocating the piston 19. If it is not desired to connect the dissolver directly with a washing-machine, a discharge-pipe 22 is disposed communicating with the lower. end of the casing 1 and a valve or gate 23 disposed to control the flow of solute from the machine.

The operation of my improved dissolver is as follows: I/Vater, preferably in a heated condition, is admitted through pipe 3 into the casing 1 until it rises to such a height as to raise the float 5 and close the valve 4:. Steam is now admitted through valve 9 and coil 8 to maintain the water in a heated state. Soap is now placed upon the screen 10, preferably in the form of chips, as ordinarily used in laundries. Any desired amount may be placed thereon, filling, if desired, the entire space above the screen 10. Steam is now admitted through the valve 12, pipe 11, and coil 13 and escaping through the perforation of the coil comes in contact with the chipped soap,which is readily dissolved by the heat and moisture of the applied steam and when dissolved drips through the screen 10 into the water below. When sufficient soap has been dissolved to produce a solution of the desired strength, the steam from coil 13 may be shut off, if desired, and further dissolution stopped or retarded. The solution is now in condition for use, and if connected with a washing-machine the valve in pipe 17 may be opened, and by manipulation of the handle 21 the piston 19 will be forced downward within the cylindrical portion 18, thereby forcing a quantity of the dissolved soap through pipe 17 into the washing-machine. If the dissolver be not connected with a washing-machine, a bucket may be placed beneath the discharge-pipe 22, and the openingof the gate 23 will permit the discharge of the solution into the bucket, from which it may be poured as desired.

While I have shown my dissolver as cylindrical in form, it is obvious that it may be made in any desired or convenient form or shape.

VVhileI have described the operation of my dissolver in connection with the dissolution of soap, it is obvious that it may be used for any purpose where any material is to be rendered liquid by the application of heat or moisture or the two combined thereto.

While I have shown and described a device for forcing the solution into a washing-machine comprising a piston and a device for manipulating the same, it is evident that other means may be employedas, for instance, the steam-pressure from pipe 11 may be confined within the casing and the solution thereby forced through the pipe 17or that other means for reciprocating the piston other than the lever 21 may be employed and that numerous other changes in the form, construction, and minor details of my dissolver may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described, comprising a vessel, a perforated support mounted within the vessel, a pipe-coil adjacent to the support and adapted to admit steam for dissolving a substance upon the support, a pipe entering the vessel and adapted to be connected externally with a source of water-supply, a valve adapted to control the flow through the pipe, a float adapted to manipulate the valve and maintain the water at a constant height below the support to receive the solution and means for maintaining the water in a heated condition.

2. A device of the character described comprising a vessel, a perforated support mounted within the vessel, a pipe-coil adjacent to the support and adapted to admit steam for dissolving a substance upon the support, a pipe entering the vessel and adapted to be connected externally with a source of water-supply, a valve adapted to control the flow through the pipe, a float adapted to manipulate the valve, and maintain the Water at a constant height below the support to receive the solution, a pipe entering the vessel below the water-line and adapted to admit steam to maintain the water in a heated condition and agate adapted to permit the solution to be drawn from the vessel.

3. A soap-dissolver comprising a vessel provided with a cylindrical portion at the lower end, a perforated diaphragm mounted near the upper end, a pipe-coil mounted adjacent to the diaphragm and adapted to admit steam to dissolve soap upon the diaphragm, a pipe entering the vessel and adapted to be connected externally with a source of water-supply, a valve adapted to control the flow in the pipe, a float adapted to manipulate the valve and maintain the water at a constant height to receive the dissolved soap, a pipe entering the lower end of the vessel and adapted to admit steam to maintain the water in a heated condition, a discharge-pipe communicating with the lower end of the cylinder, a piston mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder and adapted to force a quantity of the solution through the pipe and ahandle disposed for the manipulation of the piston.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. FLITTON.

Witnesses:

FRANK R. WARDswoR'rH, HENRY H. HORR. 

